Metal-casting apparatus



June c. 1.. LEE ET AL METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet l June 28, 1927.

c. 1.. LEE ET AL METAL CAST ING APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1.925 4Sheets-Sheet 2 l 2 June 9 7 c. L. LEE ET AL METAL CASTING APPARATUSFiled July 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 28, 1927. c. L. LEE ET AL1,634,152

METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Jilly 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmnntozPatented June 28, 1927. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. LEE AND THOMAS C. VAN DEGRIFT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TOGENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

METAL-CASTING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 23, 1925. Serial No. 45,812.

This invention relates to casting machines and more particularly tocasting'machines having sectional permanent metal molds and ejectingmeans for removing the casting from the molds after the casting has set.

The obj ect of the invention is to effectively release thecasting inresponse to the separating movement of the mold sections.

The invention consists in the combination of means and detailedconstruction whereby the separation of one section of a mold from theother operates one or more cjectors mounted in the molds.

The specific construction of the mechanism constituting the subject ofthis invention is particularly described hereinafter, ointed out in theappended claims and de ned in the annexed drawings in which: Fig. 1 is afragmentary elevation of a casting machine embodying this inventionlooked at along the plane of separation of the mold sections;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of 'a portion of the mechanism, looking towardthe rear of one of the mold sections, and a carrier therefor;

Fig. 3 is a plan viewed from above of the mold carriers and moldsections when the molds are in closed position; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a mold section showing the mold surfaces.

Referring to Fig. 1, represents a supporting frame for the castingelements, sa1d supporting frame comprising upstanding lugs 11 (of whichone is shown in Fig. 1)

which are drilled to receive pintles 12 servp ing as fulcrums foroperating levers 13 by which the mold sections are opened and closed.Levers-13 may be operated by hand or other mechanism not shown. Theupper surface of the frame 10.-between the lugs 11 on opposite sides ofthe frame is provided with a plurality of counterbored sockets 14 fromwhich pins 15 project above the plane of the surface. In thecounterbores surrounding the pins 15 are mounted relatively stiff coilsprings 16, the upper ends of which stand above the plane of the uppersurface of said frame. A yieldable base 17 is disposed above the uppersurface of frame 10, said base being provided with sockets 18 in whichthe upper ends of said pin 15 are guided. The under surface of base 17rests upon the upper ends of springs 16 and the base is thereby mountedon the frame so that it may yield as the casting expands. Base 17 has anend plate 19 bolted to one end as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which servesas a stop to position a removable chill 20 which may be seated in agroove 21 extendlng transversely of the top of said yielding base 17.

Also mounted on the frame 10 aretwo stationary cams 22 each having aninclined cam-way 23 bounded by guide elevations 24. Said cams aresecured to the base by bolts passlng through depending arms 25 on Saidcams into an upstanding member on the frame. Cams 22 on opposite sidesof the base 17 are identical in structure but are reversed so that thecam grooves 23 are dis posed on opposite sides when the cams are securedin place. This is merely for convenience of manufacture, avoiding thenecesslty of making said cams in rights and lefts.

Two mold sections are shown designated by reference numeral 26; eachmold section is secured to a mold carrier 27 which is spaced from theback of the mold as indicated at 28 so as to provide for the circulationof air between the carrier and mold in order to efliciently conduct awayheat. Each mold section is secured to its respective mold carrier by twoheaded, smooth-shank bolts 29, the heads of which may be seated in thecountersunk openings 30 formed through lateral ears 31 at the oppositeends of the section. The shanks of the bolts are adapted to traversegrooved ears 32 provided at o osite ends of theappropriate carriers 2%,said ears 32 being provided with holes registering with holes in ears 31of the mold. The ends of bolt shanks 29 are erforated transversely so asto receive slip. eys 33 by which the bolts 29 may be held in place andwhich may be quickly removed when it is desired to replace the moldsections with others.

A Projecting from the back of each mold carrier 27 are two hinge lugs 34between which extends a pintle 35 upon which is hinged the work arm 36of the aforesaid lever 13. Projecting downward and outward from the rearface of each mold carrier 27 is an arm 37 having on its free end atransverse pin or lug 38 which may,.if.

desired, be surrounded by a roller 39 engaging in sa1d cam ove 23 of cam22.

The position of each ulcrum 12, of lever 13,

pintle 35, and roller 39 with respect to the inclination and position ofcam groove 23, is such that when levers 13 are operated to open the moldsections, the contiguous faces of the mold sections will remainapproximately parallel during the early portion of the separatingmovement and thereafter will assume an inclined position as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 1. The movement detions extend preferably up anddown as shown in Fig. 3. -In the construction illus-' trated central andlateral fins 40 have their ends abutting against surfaces 41 provided onthe inner face of the mold carrier thereby spacing the mold section fromthe carrier as described.

The mold sections shown are provided with mold cavities 42 adapted toform valve push-rod tappets. The tappet made in these molds has a groovearound it and this groove is formed in the mold by means of an insert 43having transverse grooves 44. The use of the insert 43 is merely forpurposes of convenience to overcome certam difiiculties in machining themold. .Each mold cavity 42 is provided with a gate 45 each of whichcommunicates with a run 46 for receiving the molten metal. In the moldshown in Fig. 4, two of the gates 45 are.

connected by a space 47 so that, when the metal has been poured a Web ofmetal will extend between said two gates, this Web of metal beingengaged by the end of an ejector pin 51 when the mold is opened, as willbe presently explained. The mold cavities may be vented through passagesformed by chamfered edges 43 on the insert 43, small grooves 42" in themating faces of the sections and transverse vent holes 42 in the moldsections. The mold section illustrated is provided with four holes ofwhich two, designated by 48, are formed in the molds so that their axesintersect the spaces 47. Two other holes 49 intersect the mold sectionatpoints where the surfaces join when the molds are closed. At theopposite lower corners of the mold section shown are two holes 50 forthe reception of two justifying pins (not shown) disposed incorresponding positions in the mating mold. The lower ends of moldcavities 42 are open, thus permitting the metal when poured into themolds to come into contact with the chill 20 and thereby chill the endof the tappet for a considerable distance in order to provide a hardwearing surface for the end of the tappet which comes in contact withthe cam when itis in use.

Slidably mounted in the holes 48 and 49, respectively, are ejector pins51 and ejector resetting pins 52, pins 51 sliding in holes 48 andresetting pins 52 slidingin holes 49.

Holes are formed also in each carrier 27 to register with the holes 48and 49 in each mold section in order to accommodate passage of saidejector pins 51 and resetting pins 52. The ejectors 51 and resettingpins 52 are secured to a bar 53. the opposite ends of which pass throughslots 54 formed in lugs 55 that project rearward from each mold carrier27. Threaded in the outer end of each lug 55is a set screw 56, the endof which enters slot 54 and which may be adjusted to vary the distancebetween the end of the set screw and the inner end of the slot, thusad'ustably limiting the extent of movement 0 ejector bar 53 andcorrectly positioning the bar when the molds are closed. The set screwscan be adjusted so that the inner ends of the ejectors will terminateflush with the inner surfaces of the mold sections. As the inner ends ofejector pins 51 intersect a. mold cavity, the act of closing the moldwould not fully reset them. Ejector resetting pins 52 are so disposedthat their inner ends lie in the plane of the mating faces of thesections where there is no mold cavity when the mold is closed. Theytherefore insure correct resetting of the ejectors.

Pivoted on the end of each bar 53 are e ector operating devices 57. Theejector operating devices which are attached to one bar 53 are sopositioned thereon as to overlap the corresponding ejector operatingdevices on the opposite bar 53. Said ejector operating devices arespaced in appropriate position by means of collars 58 placed on one ar53 between the ejector operating device and the pin 59'on the bar,whereas on the opposite bar 53 the ejector operating device 1s spacedfrom the lug 55 by said collar 58 and is pivoted on the bar between thecollar 58 and said pin 59. The end of each ejector operating member 57has a detent 60 which, in the form shown, is a hook-like formation.Also, on each operating member 57, spaced from detent 60, is a camsurface 61. Secured to or formed on each end of each mold section is acombined catch and cam operating device 62. Each of said devices whenthe molds are closed, rests on top of chine.

two catches 62, the surface of said device between the detent 60 and thecam 61 being in substantial contact with said top.

Members 64 shown in Figs.'1 and 2, are splash plates to prevent hotmetal, which may overflow or spatter during a casting operation, fromreaching the joints of the ma- In operation the molten metal will bepoured into the mold sections when closed, as indicated in Figs. 1 and3. Levers 13 may then be operated to separate the mold sections.The-mold sections will separate by substantially parallel movement,keeping their adjacent surfaces approximately parallel, until each catchelement 62 contacts with a detent 60 on the respective ejector op-.erating members 57. Continued opening movement of the molds then causesthe catch on each mold section to pull the ejector operating members 57so that each ejector bar, to which the ejector and ejector resettingpins are connected, slides in the slots 54 on the o posite mold carrier,thus advancing the e ector and resettin' pins through the mold sectionon that carrier. After the casting has been ejected, and the moldsections and carriers approach the opening limit of movement, camsurfaces 61 on ejector operatorS 57 engage with the catches 62 mountedon that mold section which is attached to the same carrier as theejector operator, thus lifting it so that the detent 60 is released fromengagement with the catch 62 on the opposite mold section. tors 57assume now the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. l with theejectors and resetting pins protruding beyond the mold surfaces asshown. The molds may then be cleaned or sooted as desired. When themolds are closed, the ends of the ejector resetting pins 52 protrudingthrough one mold section come in contact with a plane surface on theopposed mold section and thus restore the ejectors and ejectingmechanism to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the

pins 51 being pushed back flush with the casting cavity surface which itintersects.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a casting machine comprising mold sections movable toward and fromeach other; an ejector movably mounted on each of said mold sections,and means for temporarily connecting the ejector mounted on one sectionto the other section whereby the e'ectors will operate to eject thecasting w on the mold sections are separated.

2. In a casting machine comprising mold sections movable toward and fromeach The ejector operaother; an ejector movably mounted on each of saidmold sections; ejector operators connected respectively with saidejectors; and devices movable re ectivelywith said sect1ons fortemporari y engaging the ejector operator of the other? section andoperating a detent; and a device connected with the other mold sectionfor engaging the detent and thereby operating the ejector when the moldsections are'separated.

4. In a casting machine comprising mold sections movable toward and fromeach said sections; an ejector operator connected with the ejector, saidejector operator having a detent; acatch connected with the other moldsection for engaging the detent and thereby operating the ejector duringthe separation of the mold sections, and means, connected with thesection to Whichthe ejector operator is connected, adapted to disengagesaid detent from said catch after the casting has been ejected.

5. In a casting machine comprising mold sections movable toward and fromeach other; an ejector movably mounted in one of said sections; anejector operator pivotally connected with the ejector, said ejectoroperator having a detent and a cam surface; a catch, connected with theother mold section, for engaging the detent and thereby operating theejector during the separation of the mold sections; and a cam element,connected with the section to which the-ejector operator is connected,adapted to move the ejector operator and thereby disengage said detentfrom said catch after the casting has been ejected.

6. In a casting machine comprising mold sections movable toward and fromeach other; an ejector movably mounted in each section; an ejectoroperator connected .with each ejector, said ejector operators havingeach a detent; a catch connected with each mold section and engaging thedetent of the ejector operator on the other section, and therebyoperating the ejectors during the separating of the mold sections, andmeans, connected with each section, adapted to disengage the detentsfrom said catches. after the casting has been ejected.

7. In a casting machine comprising mold sections movable toward and fromeach other, an ejector movably mounted on each section; a pivotedejector operator connected with each ejector, said ejectors having eacha detent and a cam surface; a combined catch and camming elementconnected with each ejector so constructed and arranged other; anejector movably mounted in one of I that each ejector will be moved toeject the ill ' end of said bar; a detent on each ejector operator, acatch connected to each end of the opposite mold section for engagingsaid detents and operating the ejector bar when the mold sections areseparated.

9. In a casting apparatus comprising mold sections movable toward andfrom each other; a carrier for each mold section; ejectors movablymounted in at least one carrier and section; an ejector bar slidablymounted in the carrier in which said ejectors are mounted; an ejectoroperator connected I to each end of said bar; a detent and a cam surfaceon each ejector operator; catches connected with the other section, andcamming devices on the section to which the ejector bar and operatorsare connected for first engaging the detents on the ejector operatorswhen the mold sections are separated and thereafter moving the ejectoroperators to release the detents.

In a castin apparatus comprising mold sections mova le toward and fromeach other; carriers for said mold sections; ejectors movably mounted ineach section; an

each ejector operator' catches and camming devices connected with eachend of each section for engaging said detents and operating ejector barwhen the mold sections are separated, and thereafter moving said ejectoroperators soas to release the detents.

11. In a casting apparatus com rising mold sections movable toward aneach other at least one of said mold sections having a hole intersectinga mold cavity and a hole intersectin a surface that contacts with acorrespon ing surface on the other mold section; an ejector movable inthe first named hole; an ejector resetting device movable in said secondnamed hole; means connecting said ejector and said ejector resettindevice so that they retreat together, the en s of said ejector and saidejector resetting device, when the molds are closed, lying,respectively, flush with the surface of said mold cavity and said moldcontacting surface.

12. In a casting apparatus comprising mold sections movable relativelytoward and from each other, an ejector movable on one section in such amanner as to engage a casting therein, an ejector operating device, aresettin device connected to said ejecfor so dispose as to engage asurface on the other mold section and reset the ejector when the moldsections are closed.

In testimony whereof we hereto aifix our signatures.

CHARLES L. LEE. THOMAS (J. VAN DEGRIFT.

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